Bridging the gap between education and real-world skills with ASDAN's CoPE

ASDAN’s Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) is a nationally recognised qualification available at Levels 1, 2 and 3. As one of ASDAN’s longest running courses, it has enabled countless young learners to develop their confidence, wellbeing and personal resilience.

Annabelle Pattinson started teaching at Old Swinford Hospital School last year and brought extensive experience of delivering CoPE with her. We spoke to Annabelle to find out how her current learners are benefiting from the course and discover the outstanding outcomes she has seen previously.

“All of our pupils are state school students, but have the option to board. When I started here, the main thing I noticed was that there were no vocational courses available. The curriculum was very academic and in the traditional boarding school mould. We needed something modern and contemporary to meet the diverse needs of the children that are now attending the school.”

“I have taught CoPE in different settings for the last 20 years, going back to delivering it during the initial pilot phase. Having seen the positive effects it has had on so many young people, I knew it was perfect to fill the vocational gap in the curriculum. My class here includes learners with autism, physical disabilities and dyslexia. This is the first time there has been a course here that meets the needs the varied needs of all students and they absolutely love it.”

Imaginative ways of accrediting young people's activities

“My group have nearly completed CoPE Level 1 and are so enthusiastic about getting stuck into the different activities. Recently, as part of the ‘Work-related learning and enterprise’ module, they made and sold badges. This was a great, low-risk task which was easy for them to engage in, giving them an understanding of costing and making a profit. Next year when they are working at Level 2, we will be making tables using wine boxes from a local wine merchant and selling them at a higher price. Working in this way allows for the progression to develop their confidence and skills effectively.”

The students also loved the challenge for the ‘Citizenship and community’ module where they created a display board sharing recent news stories. They chose what they would add and included things like the war in Ukraine, the World Cup, and the use of artificial intelligence. This activity was great for our students to complete as it got them thinking about real-world issues, alongside encouraging their creativity.”

"The school is traditionally very high achieving, yet my cohort of students was performing below the grade average, which often sometimes resulted in lack of engagement. Completing CoPE has allowed them to achieve a recognised qualification and come away with something useful for their future.”

“The course has been a huge boost for their self esteem. I’ve got young people in my class who were really struggling to focus and had a number of issues with their view of themselves as a learner. Through their CoPE work, they have become so attentive and determined, they just can’t wait to get on to the next challenge. It’s also helped them with their core subjects. During the run up to their mock GCSE exams, they were making revision timetables and taking ownership over what they had to revise, which shows such an improvement in their motivation and engagement.”

“The flexibility of CoPE means it can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual and allows them to be pushed out of their comfort zones. One of our group is very quiet and for the ‘Communication’ module he showed a visitor around the school. He was apprehensive but through tackling challenges like this, there has been a real elevation in his self-esteem. It provides the structure to push themselves but in a way that they still feel safe.”

Creating opportunities for future success

We asked Annabelle about her enthusiasm for bringing CoPE to Old Swinford Hospital School.

“I was so confident about using CoPE here as I’ve seen the results time and time again in the other schools where I’ve delivered it over the past two decades. All the children I’ve taught it to have achieved at least Level 2 and gone on to college. I keep in touch with my previous students and none of them dropped out of college and are all in employment, with a real range of careers. I have one student who is now the stage manager at a London theatre, another that manages a specialist car alloy wheels shop, an international boat manager and some that have become teachers.”

“The course has also been an effective tool to get young people to university who may not have been able to otherwise and so many have gone on to do degrees. At a previous school, we did CoPE Level 3 in the sixth form and one of the students went for a university interview. They really wanted to hear about the great work she has achieved doing CoPE and almost certainly wouldn’t have been offered her place without it.”

“It does make a difference, because it's aimed at what the learners can do, not what they know.”

“They can get that boost to help them with their core subjects, through gaining confidence in learning and achieving, but also confidence in failure. Helping them to realise that if they aren’t performing as well in one area, then that’s OK – there’s time to address the issue and work on it. CoPE does a great job of fostering their sense of independence, which is so helpful when they take a work experience placement or start a job for first time.”

Annabelle told us what she would say to other settings that may want to deliver CoPE.

“Just do it. Try and visit other schools in your area delivering CoPE and see what they are doing. Don’t just look at the paperwork, have a look at the learners in action and speak to their teachers, it’s inspiring. CoPE gives young people life skills and sets them up for life, I can’t recommend it enough.”

Explore how integrating ASDAN’s CoPE can enhance your curriculum as a standalone qualification or as part of a progression pathway through our wider offer. Complete our expression of interest form and start a conversation about how we can tailor our support to empower your learners.